Motion picture film splicing tape punch



Sept. 27, 1966 R. c. LE BLANC MOTION PICTURE FILM SPLIGING TAPE PUNCH Filed Nov. 13, 1964 Roger C. LeB/anc INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,274,687 MOTION PICTURE FILM SPLICING TAPE PUNCH Roger C. Le Blane, 138 N. Brandywine Ave., Schenectady, N.Y. Filed Nov. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 410,887 Claims. (0. 30-360) This invention generally relates to the art of motion picture film splicing and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a novel means in the form of a plier-type hand tool whereby the operation of punching sprocket teeth holes in the applied splicing tape or patch may be expeditiously and accurately performed.

Another highly important object of the present invention is to provide a hand tool of the aforementioned character comprising unique means for positioning and holding the spliced end portions of the films preparatory to punching the sprocket holes in the tape or patch.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a hand tool of the character set forth comprising a construction and arrangement of parts which is such that the holes will be punched in the tape or patch in precise registry with the film holes covered by said tape or patch.

Other objects are to provide an improved film splicing tape punch which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation of a punch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the forward portion of the tool, showing the jaws in open position with a spliced film in the tool;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view substantially similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the tool closed on the film;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section through the forward portion of the tool, showing the jaws closed on the film;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, showing the spliced end portions of a pair of film strips before the splicing tape is punched; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view substantially similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the splicing tape after it has been punched.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a plier-type hand tool of suitable metal which is generally designated by reference numeral 8. The tool 8, which may also be of any desired dimensions, comprises a pair of generaly channel-shaped elongated handles 10 and 12 having one end portion crossed and pivotally connected at 13. At the pivotally connected ends thereof, the crossed handles 10 and 12 terminate, respectively, in opposed, coacting jaws 14 and 16. As shown to advantage in FIGURE 5 of the drawing, the jaw 14 is formed to provide an opening 18. A spring 20 is mounted on the pivot pin 13 and has its end portions engaged under tension with the handles 10 and 12 for yieldingly urging the tool 8 toward open position.

Afiixed to the face of the jaw 14 over the opening 18 therein is a die which is generally designated by reference numeral 22. The die 22 includes a transversely elongated metallic plate 24 which is secured as by welding to the jaw 14. Aflixed to the plate 24 on the upper side 3,274,687 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 thereof is a pair of transversely spaced upstanding lugs or pins 26. Between the pins 26 the plate 24 has formed therein a series of openings 28 which communicate with the jaw opening 18.

Mounted on the jaw 16 and cooperable with the die 22 is a multiple punch 30. The punch 30 comprises a metallic plate 32 which is affixed transversely to the face of the jaw 16. The plate 32 has formed integrally with its free end a series of spaced teeth or punches 34 which are engageable in the openings 28 in the plate 24.

Reference numeral 36 generally designates a portion of a motion picture film comprising end portions 38 to be spliced. The film 36 is of the type which includes a single row of sprocket teeth holes 40 adjacent to one longitudinal edge. The film 36 has been spliced by abutting the ends of the portions 38 and securing same by folding a strip of suitable adhesive tape 42 transversely thereon.

From the foregoing it is thought that the use or operation of the tool will be readily apparent. Briefly, the spliced film 36 is mounted on the plate 24 with the tape 42 between the upstanding pins or lugs 26, said pins or lugs projecting through the holes 40 which are closest to said tape. Thus, the spliced film is firmly secured in position on the jaw 14. The tool is then closed against the action of the spring 20 for forcing the teeth or punches 34 through both folds of the tape 42 and the holes 40 in the end portions 38 of the tape 36 which are covered by said tape. As shown to advantage in FIGURE 5 of the drawing, the element 24 of the punch 30 are forced downwardly through the openings 28 in the plate 24 until tarrested by the engagement of the plate 32 with said plate 24. When the handles 10 and 12 are released the .tool is immediately opened by the spring 20 and the spliced, punched film is removed. The projecting end portions of the tape 42 are then out off and the film is ready for use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a strip of film including a pair of end aligned sections with uniformly and longitudinally spaced sprocket holes formed therein in at least one pair of corresponding edge portions of said sections and a piece of splicing tape secured to at least one side of said strip throughout an area extending longitudinally of said strip a distance greater than the distance between two adjacent sprocket holes formed in said strip, a motion picture film splicing tape punching tool comprising a pair of jaws operatively interconnected for relative guided movement toward and away from each other, a die on one of said jaws for receiving the film thereon, said die having spaced openings therein with which the sprocket holes formed in said strip and disposed in said area are registrable, positioning means on said die engaging and positioning said strip in predetermined position on said die with the sprocket holes in said area registered with said openings, and punch means on the other jaw projecting outwardly thereof toward said one jaw and cooperable with the openings in said die for punching through said tape in the portions thereof covering said holes in said area upon movement of the other jaw toward said one jaw.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes spaced projection means projecting outwardly of the die toward the other jaw and extending through sprocket holes in said strip on opposite sides of said area.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said punch means includes a plate affixed edgewise along one edge portion to said other jaw, and spaced punching elements on a second edge portion of said plate remote from said one edge portion projecting outwardly of said second edge toward said one jaw.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said die includes a plate aflixed to said one jaw and disposed in a plane generally normal to the path of relative movement of said jaws and said openings are formed through said plate.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaws are carried by one pair of corresponding end portions of a pair of pivotally interconnected elongated levers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1922 Foote 30363 4/1923 Dohe 3()363 X 3/1930 Griswold 30363 12/1930 Sponable 30-363 2/1957 Garity 83451 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1948 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A STRIP OF FILM INCLUDLING A PAIR OF END ALIGNED SECTIONS WITH UNIFORMLY AND LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SPROCKET HOLES FORMED THEREIN IN AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF CORRESPONDING EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SECTIONS AND A PIECE OF SPLICING TAPE SECURED TO AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF SAID STRIP THROUGHOUT AN AREA EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID STRIP A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT SPROCKET HOLES FORMED IN SAID STRIP, A MOTION PICTURE FILM SPLICING TAPE PUNCHING TOOL COMPRISING A PAIR OF JAWS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED FOR RELATIVE GUIDED MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, A DIE ON ONE OF SAID JAWS FOR RECEIVING THE FILM THEREON, SAID DIE HAVING SPACED OPENINGS THEREIN WITH WHICH THE SPROCKET HOLES FORMED IN SAID STRIP AND DISPOSED IN SAID AREA ARE REGISTRABLE, POSITIONING MEANS ON SAID DIE ENGAGING AND POSITIONING SAID STRIP IN PREDETERMINED POSITION ON SAID DIE WITH THE SPROCKET HOLES IN SAID AREA REGISTERED WITH SAID OPENINGS, AND PUNCH MEANS ON THE OTHER JAW PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREOF TOWARD SAID ONE JAW AND COOPERABLE WITH THE OPENINGS IN SAID DIE FOR PUNCHING THROUGH SAID TAPE IN THE PORTIONS THEREOF COVERING SAID HOLES IN SAID AREA UPON MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER JAW TOWARD SAID ONE JAW. 